I'd been hired to take photograph for my friends band (as posted previously). I uploaded a large batch of the worthwhile and tweaked images to a private set on Flickr as a sort of "contact sheet". Instead of telling me which they wanted, they've just grabbed the images already and started posting them to Facebook, which... has dubious ownership rights. Now I've got to try and explain that they've only agreed to pay for a dozen or so images, not a 50something sized set.

Is it permissable to add a watermark on a photograph for which you are being paid?

I think at the point where you took funds, it became work for hire, meaning probably not. However you can sequester the images they didn't pay for or water mark them. doing paid work for friends or friends of friends always takes extra communication.

@Rachael: Unless you have signed a contract transferring all copyright to the band of the photos you took, all of these photos are yours. What usage terms did you agree to with the bands? Your agreement you mentioned only entitled them to 12 or so images, so no matter what the terms, they are entitled to only 12 images. Those photos are still yours so you have several choices of action:

1) Send them DMCA notice to them and Facebook.2) Send them a bill for all the images they have used, with the 200% invoice mark up for their breach of contract, and let them use the photos.3) Do both.4) Tell them to knock it off, and bill them with the asshole tax.

This is your hard work and artistic vision, and you should be compensated for it.

first, I walked into my bedroom from taking a bath this afternoon to find this bird perched on my AC unit... watching me. he's peeking through my window, looking at me as I type this. it takes a lot to weird me out, but this pigeon is making some serious headway in that direction.

second,two shots.

other business:@allana: your images are gorgeous. I have a feeling I'm going to end up cloning a few of your cuba shots with some buildings around here. @thewaltonsare: Thanks. I'm off to the parents' house in the land of no cell phone signal and dialup internet, so these are the last photos I'll subject you to until monday.

@COOP - great focus distance choice on the girlfriend shot.@thewaltons - that's one of the best cherry blossom photos I've seen.@allana - lensflare YES.@hank - those are just ridiculously crisp.@shannon - yr pal Dave looks like a mentalist, in the best possible way & the pigeon picture is great - they're very expressive birds, I have been surprised to find.